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Hello, all!

I am new to card tricks (got interested enough to try last summer, and have since then messed around with them on and off). In a few days I will be leaving on a trip to Russia and Ukraine with a music group. Because if this, I will be spending quite a while in planes and trains... So, I ordered The Royal Road to Card Magic (which sounds like it is a "must read" according to... well, everyone), and am wanting to learn some stuff while travelling.

Anyway, I am wondering if you have any recommendations of good portable card trick surfaces, or recommendations of how I can make the following idea come to reality:
I was thinking that perhaps I could get a cake board (not cardboard) and glue felt to it. I've been reading around, and it seems that contact cement spray is the way to go... Please feel free to recommend something else. I'm thinking I am going to need to fold the felt under the board and glue it on the bottom as well, since it would probably peel up pretty easy if I only glued it on the top.

So... any recommendations?

Thanks!

There are some good posts on similar topics already on this forum, try the search function. A quick answer would be that yes you can make your own card surface using some board and felt but from what you described, a big board, or at least big enough to make it worth while would just be a cumbersome addition to an already complex luggage situation. If you're just starting out and going to be learning from the Royal Road (which by the way is the recognized starting place for learning card magic), then you will probably be learning mostly sleights that are performed in the hands, not routines that involve big table areas for spreads and other similar moves.

Short answer, I just don't think it would be worth the effort. You'll always be able to find surfaces to practice. I've spent a lot of time traveling with work and for personal reasons and have never had an issue. Just avoid places where your cards will get sticky and you'll be fine.

ElectroPulse wrote:Hello, all!

I am new to card tricks (got interested enough to try last summer, and have since then messed around with them on and off). In a few days I will be leaving on a trip to Russia and Ukraine with a music group. Because if this, I will be spending quite a while in planes and trains... So, I ordered The Royal Road to Card Magic (which sounds like it is a "must read" according to... well, everyone), and am wanting to learn some stuff while travelling.

Anyway, I am wondering if you have any recommendations of good portable card trick surfaces, or recommendations of how I can make the following idea come to reality:
I was thinking that perhaps I could get a cake board (not cardboard) and glue felt to it. I've been reading around, and it seems that contact cement spray is the way to go... Please feel free to recommend something else. I'm thinking I am going to need to fold the felt under the board and glue it on the bottom as well, since it would probably peel up pretty easy if I only glued it on the top.

So... any recommendations?

Thanks!

Hi there. About 5 years ago I did the same thing around 4 locations in Europe.. All I did was buy a cheap rubber card mat for £7 and also got myself a piece of cork the same size and just applied some double sided sticky tape to the cork and attatched the card mat, which will stop any bend in the mat. And when your finished it can easy be put away in whatever bag or case you have on your persons. Simples!!!

Yes a piece of board with some velvet on top is the best thing. If you want a softer surface get one of those square carpet swatches they have in carpet shops, cut it to size and staple it to the board, then put the velvet over the top of the carpet. Its best to get a piece of velvet that is large enough to go all the way round the board so that you can stitch the ends together on the underside rather than using glue.

V.E. Day wrote:Yes a piece of board with some velvet on top is the best thing. If you want a softer surface get one of those square carpet swatches they have in carpet shops, cut it to size and staple it to the board, then put the velvet over the top of the carpet. Its best to get a piece of velvet that is large enough to go all the way round the board so that you can stitch the ends together on the underside rather than using glue.

Now why did I not think of that

I've been using the carpet method for years. There is no need for the carpet to be tacked to the board, the covering material holds it firmly in place when stretched over the top. I wouldn't advise sewing the underside, tape or even thumb tacks are better and easier - one of the advantages of this is that the covering can be easily removed and reattached for washing, with minimum fuss. If need be a seperate rectangle of material can be placed over the bottom of the board to keep things looking neat.

Details can be found in my post in this thread

sutra409138.php

If you see the three shell/three matchbox scam artists at work in various cities, you'll see that most of them use carpet squares or just squares of cardboard. Cheap and very portable, no worries if they have to 'lose' them in hurry!

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